Boulder Entrepreneurs Eye Food Truck Park Future

Boulder Entrepreneurs Eye Food Truck Park Future

BOULDER, CO – Now, it’s a trash-strewn lot off East Pearl Parkway. But a group of Boulder entrepreneurs sees food trucks, local breweries, a grassy lawn, sheltered seating in converted shipping containers and maybe even a small stage.

“We want to create a destination place for Boulderites,” said Matt Patrick, one of the partners, along with Hank Grant and Justin Riley, in the Boulder Food Park venture. “What if we had a nice little outdoor place where people could come and get a great local beer and some great local food and hear some great local music? There aren’t a lot of places in Boulder where people can eat and drink and spread out a little.”

Boulder food truck operators have long wanted the city to ease its restrictions so they could hold more of the “podding” events popular in surrounding communities, as well as so they could capture more late-night business downtown.

Boulder doesn’t allow the trucks to operate within 150 feet of a residential area, within 150 feet of an existing restaurant or after 9 p.m., though the city has experimented — with mixed results — with late-night service in a city-owned lot at Arapahoe Avenue and Broadway.

However, the City Council in May approved a change allowing up to four food trucks on private property when before only two were allowed, and several council members said they want the city to find creative ways to offer more late-night service.

Patrick said Boulder Food Park ideally would have up to six food trucks at a time but would follow all city rules and regulations.

“We’re not trying to be in opposition to the city,” he said. “We’re trying, hopefully, to be what they are looking for. We hope this is something that can maybe relieve that tension.”

No official from the city of Boulder was available Wednesday to discuss the Boulder Food Park plans.

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